Multigene analysis can discriminate between IBD and IBS

Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs) and the irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) are heterogeneous disorders of the gastrointestinal tract and can profoundly affect the quality of life.

Because many of the symptoms of inflammatory bowel diseases are similar to those of irritable bowel syndrome, the former may be misdiagnosed.

In addition, the 2 major forms of inflammatory bowel diseases, ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease, have overlapping nonspecific, pathologic features leading to difficulties in assessing colonic inflammation.

The the term Inflammatory bowel diseases unclassified has been proposed.

Dr Petra von Stein and colleagues from Sweden identified and assessed the utility of a certain set of marker genes that could help to distinguish irritable bowel syndrome from inflammatory bowel diseases.

The team also assessed whether the marker genes could discriminate between ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease.